The country will be heading to the polls to elect new leaders on 29 August. 

It followed a decision from the Supreme Court this afternoon upholding the three months mandated in the Constitution to conduct a general election following the dissolution of parliament. 

Chief Justice Satiu Simativa Perese, sitting alongside Senior Judge Justice Vui Clarence Nelson and Justice Leutele Mata Tuatagaloa delivered the ruling a day after a brief hearing.

The decision means the electoral roll will likely be temporarily closed at the end of June despite less than 60 per cent of the voting population being registered. In addition, the timeframe for all other electoral processes will be drastically shortened.  

The Office of the Electoral Commissioner sought declaratory orders from the Supreme Court to confirm when the country can hold the early general election. 

Under the Electoral Act, the Commissioner is independent and not subject to direction from anyone, only the orders of the court.